By Greg Fry

New tourism numbers indicate Aussies can’t get enough of B.C.

Nov 22, 2017 | 10:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia remains a top tourism destination, according to newly released numbers from Statistics Canada.

Figures from September show 4.6 per cent growth over the same month in 2016, with more than 26,000 more visitors arriving in B.C. The total year-to-date international overnight custom entries to B.C. are also up 3.1 per cent, with more than 139,000 more visitors.

According to B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, around 10 per cent of annual international overnight entries to B.C. come in September. The Ministry attributes the growth to an increase in direct flights to the province, as well as B.C.’s global reputation as a world-class tourism destination.

Noteworthy increases for September include:

• Australia – up 19.6 per cent
• Germany – up 18.6 per cent
• United States – up 7.4 per cent
• France – up 4.4 per cent
• Japan – up 4.1 per cent

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Noteworthy increases for year-to-date increases include:

• Australia – up 22.4 per cent
• Mexico – up 21.7 per cent
• Germany – up 14.9 per cent
• China – up 6.2 per cent
• Japan – up 4.3 per cent
• United States – up 2.3 per cent

Statistics from the provincial government indicate 127,000 British Columbians were employed in the tourism sector in 2015.